Fear of rejection leads the list of reasons I have compiled for not submitting my work for publication. Yet, I can flip out a text message, an email to students and colleagues, or even a short blog without much trepidation. I harbor a pervasive stereotype of my own ability to craft something worth reading--but if you are reading this, well then, my writing must be worth something.
If I don't submit something, I can't get published. Better authors than I have faced rejection. J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter book was initially rejected by several publishers. Stephen King, Agatha Christie, Dr. Suess--all faced rejection and continued to pursue publication of their craft. Persistence is key. Passionate writers, writers who have ability and want to publish, should pursue the craft, but not all writers aspire to publish. So, why pursue writing?
Student writers are among those who do not always see the value in academic writing. Associated with literature and publishing, writing can occasionally be undervalued. Yet, writing undergirds academic and professional performance. From basic requests via email to writing reports, students moving from school into the field need good writing skills. Yet, students are often resistant to working on writing skills in my classes. Okay, maybe examining sentence lines isn't exciting, but understanding how others will interpret what an author writes is a critical skill.
This summer, I am resolving to submit something for publication. I have a few academic articles in the works, a list of poems I want to edit, a few short stories ready but scared to submit, and a novel that needs some serious structure and editing before getting sent to a publisher (the result of 2019's NaNoWriMo participation). Surely something in there is worth printing . . .
Who else holds similar fears about "publishing" or sharing their writing?
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